ROCK HILL, S.C. – Chandler Redmond belted two home runs in Saturday's first game to lift Gardner-Webb past Winthrop, 8-1, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would manage just two base hits in the nightcap, falling to the Eagles by a 7-1 score in Big South Conference action.
 
Gardner-Webb moves to 18-18 overall and 8-10 in Big South play, while Winthrop is now 23-16 overall and 12-6 in league action.
 
GAME ONE
 
Gardner-Webb plated three runs in the first two innings to cruise to an 8-1 win over Winthrop in Saturday's lid-lifter.
 
The 'Dogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, connecting with three straight base hits with two outs in the top of the first inning.  Redmond began the string, followed by a knock down the left field line by Corey Howard and a RBI single to dead center by Eric Jones.
 
GWU added to its lead in the top of the second, once again stringing together three consecutive base hits with two outs.  Colton Sakamoto connected with a hit to right field, followed by an infield single by Ben LaSpaluto, setting up a two-run single to center field by Justin Kunz to give the 'Dogs a 3-0 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb added one to its lead in the top of the fourth on a RBI single by Mitch McLendon, scoring Chris Clary, who led off the frame with a knock to left field.
 
Winthrop got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth, scoring on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Brandon Fite, but Gardner-Webb would stop the Eagles in the following at-bat as Tyler Baker would line out into a double play to end the inning.
 
Gardner-Webb pushed its lead to five at 6-1 in the top of the fifth as Redmond belted a two-run blast to right field.
 
Redmond would once again go deep in the top of the seventh with a solo shot, his 14^th home run of 2019 and 46^th of his career, inching closer to Big South Conference career home run mark of 53 set by Winthrop's Jason Colson in 2001.
 
GWU would score once more in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by JP McGuire.
 
GWU tallied 13 base hits, with Redmond (3-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 HR) and Howard (3-for-5, 2B) leading that effort.
 
Winthrop had nine hits, paced by Matthew Mulkey, who was 3-for-4 with a double.
 
Landon Mitchell (4-4) earned the win on the mound for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing just one run on seven base hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work.  Chase Lane and Cody Dooley each tossed a scoreless frame in relief.
 
Nate Pawelczyk (7-3) took the loss for the Eagles, surrendering six runs on nine hits with four strikeouts in six innings.  Braxton Foley hurled the final three innings, giving up a a pair of runs on four base hits while fanning three batters.
 
GAME TWO
 
Winthrop's Thad Harris did not allow a base hit until the ninth inning as the Eagles defeated Gardner-Webb by a 7-1 score in Saturday's nightcap.
 
After Redmond reached via a walk in the top of the first inning with two outs, Gardner-Webb did not have another baserunner until McLendon led off the top of the ninth with GWU's first base hit of the day.
 
McLendon reached via an infield single to break up Harris' no-hit bid to lead off the ninth, breaking a string of 22 consecutive retired batters.  Later in the frame, Kunz would get GWU's second hit of the day on a RBI double down the left field line to prevent the shutout.
 
Winthrop seized control of the game early, scoring five runs in the first three innings. 
 
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, Grant English doubled two drive in a pair of runs to give Winthrop a 2-0 lead.
 
Scout McFalls drove in one run in the second on a base hit down the left field line, and in the third, English drove in one on a base hit to right field and one more scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Sullivan.
 
Winthrop added two more runs in the sixth, scoring once on a RBI double by Hunter Lipscomb, who would later score on an error by GWU shortstop LaSpaluto.
 
The Eagles totaled 16 base hits for the contest, with Lipscomb, who was 4-for-4, with a double and one RBI, leading the way.
 
Gardner-Webb had two hits, both in the ninth, by Kunz (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) and McLendon (1-for-3).
 
Harris (3-4) went the distance for Winthrop, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts.
 
Kyle Ruehlman (3-4) took the loss for GWU, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine base hits with one strikeout in 2.1 innings of work.  Aaron Stewart tossed 1.2 innings in relief, allowing no runs on three hits.  Jarrett Thompson worked three innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with a pair of strikeouts, and Langdon Wilson hurled one scoreless inning, allowing one base hit while fanning one batter.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs travel to Knoxville, Tenn. for their next matchup, taking on Tennessee on Tuesday evening.  The first pitch is slated for 5:30 pm with live coverage on SEC Network +.